Attorneys for an Orlando doctor accused of running a pill-mill argued Wednesday that there's too much publicity on the prescription-drug epidemic in Central Florida for him to get a fair tria. But a judge said they need to try to pick a jury locally first before selecting a panel from outside the area.

Roman Mosai was arrested two years ago in one of the first large-scale investigations into Central Florida physicians accused of illegally prescribing highly addictive drugs such as painkillers.

Mosai's defense attorney has denied the physician ran a so-called pill mill and said he's being lumped in with other suspected pill-mill operators.

The defense team filed a motion earlier this year requesting a change of venue, arguing there is a "pro-prosecution bias" in local news coverage of the prescription drug problem.

On Wednesday, defense lawyer Amy Tingley argued it will be very difficult to find a fair jury in Orange County.

She and others during the hearing referred to a quote that appeared in the Orlando Sentinel from a top investigator, who referred to Mosai and another arrested doctor as "merchants of death and despair in our community."

Assistant State Attorney Robert Welch told the court it would be more efficient to try to seat a jury in Orange County before traveling to another jurisdiction and bring those jurors to Central Florida.

"It seems foolish to try the most difficult option," Welch said.

Ultimately, Circuit Court Judge Mike Murphy said the attorneys should try to pick a jury in Orange County first.

Prospective jurors will complete a questionnaire crafted by the attorneys that will help gauge their level of potential bias about the prescription drug issue.